X Starterpacks Launch: A Strategic Move to Revive Crypto Engagement and Simplify Onboarding

In a strategic move to combat declining engagement and simplify user onboarding, social media platform X has announced the imminent launch of ‘Starterpacks,’ a feature designed to instantly connect new users with curated lists of top accounts in specific interest categories, with a significant focus on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency communities. This development, confirmed by X’s head of product Nikita Bier on January 21, 2026, arrives at a critical juncture for crypto discourse on the platform and represents a months-long effort to map the platform’s ‘interest-based graph.’

X Starterpacks: A Direct Response to Crypto Engagement Trends

X’s introduction of Starterpacks is not occurring in a vacuum. Consequently, the feature launch follows concerning data about engagement within cryptocurrency circles on the platform. Notably, on January 20, 2026, Bitcoin cypherpunk Jameson Lopp shared analysis from social media entrepreneur Jean-Christophe Gatuingt indicating a 32% year-over-year decline in posts containing the word “Bitcoin” throughout 2025. This metric suggests a potential cooling of organic conversation, which X’s product team appears keen to address.

Nikita Bier explained the core challenge directly. He recounted a conversation highlighting that account growth remains one of the platform’s “toughest challenges.” Furthermore, Bier emphasized that the true value of X emerges when users move beyond the mainstream timeline and delve into niche interests. However, he acknowledged the significant time investment required for curation, stating, “Power users like me have spent years finding accounts and curating our timeline.” The Starterpacks feature aims to solve this discovery bottleneck by providing immediate, expert-vetted access to communities.

The Mechanics and Scale of the New Tool

The operational scope of Starterpacks is substantial. According to Bier, the product team has “scoured the world for the top posters in every niche & country” over several months. The result is a library of over 1,000 pre-made “packs” ready for launch in a few weeks. A preview video revealed that categories extend beyond cryptocurrency to include news, politics, fashion, technology, business, and finance. Within the crypto vertical, specific sub-categories will include:

• Memecoin Trading: Curated accounts focused on the high-volatility memecoin market.
• Crypto News & Analysis: Aggregated feeds from leading journalists, analysts, and reporting outlets.
• Bitcoin Development: Accounts for those interested in the technical and cypherpunk aspects of Bitcoin.
• DeFi & Web3: Lists featuring builders and commentators in decentralized finance and web3.

This structured approach intends to lower the barrier to entry for newcomers while also helping existing users discover new voices within their niches.

Contextualizing the Feature Within Social Media Trends

The concept of curated account lists is not novel in the social media landscape. Therefore, X’s move can be seen as a competitive response to features already deployed by rivals. For instance, the decentralized platform Bluesky launched its own “Starter Packs” in June 2024, enabling users to create and share lists of accounts based on interests. Similarly, Meta’s Threads began testing a comparable custom feed curation feature in December 2024.

X’s strategy differentiates itself through sheer volume and official curation. Instead of relying solely on user generation, X is investing internal resources to build these lists, aiming for authority and comprehensiveness from day one. This top-down approach could ensure quality but may also spark debates about which accounts receive the platform’s endorsement.

The Broader Impact on Cryptocurrency Communities and Discourse

The launch of Starterpacks holds specific implications for the cryptocurrency sector. Firstly, it could serve as a direct intervention to reverse the cited engagement decline by funneling new and existing users directly into active crypto communities. By simplifying discovery, X may increase the density of relevant conversations, potentially boosting metrics like time-on-platform and user retention within these niches.

Secondly, the feature raises questions about influence and visibility. Inclusion in a popular “Bitcoin” or “Memecoin Trading” Starterpack could drive significant follower growth for the selected accounts. Consequently, the curation process itself becomes a powerful but opaque editorial function. Bier stated the goal is to find the “best accounts—big or small—for their interests,” suggesting a mix of established voices and emerging experts. The platform’s ability to identify authentic, high-quality posters will be critical to the feature’s success and credibility.

Finally, this move underscores X’s continued focus on cryptocurrency as a core vertical. Despite recent platform policy shifts, such as the reported ban on payments for certain AI content which affected projects like Kaito’s ‘Yaps,’ the dedicated crypto Starterpacks signal a commitment to serving this community. The platform appears to be betting that improved user experience and community discovery will strengthen its position as a central hub for crypto discussion.

Expert Angle: Onboarding as a Growth Imperative

From a product strategy perspective, effective onboarding is a well-documented growth lever. A complex platform like X, which thrives on user-customized feeds, faces a ‘cold start’ problem. New users often encounter a sparse or irrelevant timeline, leading to early churn. Starterpacks act as an immediate accelerant, providing a populated, interesting feed from the first click. For cryptocurrency, a domain with a steep learning curve, this guided introduction could be particularly valuable. It transforms the user journey from one of daunting search to one of curated exploration, potentially converting casual observers into engaged community participants.

Conclusion

The impending launch of X’s Starterpacks feature represents a significant and calculated evolution in social media onboarding and community discovery. By pre-curating over 1,000 interest-based packs—with prominent categories for Bitcoin and various cryptocurrency niches—X is directly addressing both a platform-wide growth challenge and sector-specific engagement declines. This move aligns with broader industry trends while differentiating through scale and official curation. Ultimately, the success of the X Starterpacks will hinge on the quality of its selections and its ability to meaningfully connect users with the vibrant, niche communities that define the modern social media experience.

FAQs

Q1: What are X Starterpacks?
X Starterpacks are curated lists of accounts that new users can follow instantly based on specific interests like cryptocurrency, news, or technology. They are designed to simplify the onboarding process.

Q2: When will X Starterpacks launch?
According to X head of product Nikita Bier, the Starterpacks tool is scheduled to go live in a few weeks from the announcement date of January 21, 2026.

Q3: How many Starterpacks will be available?
At launch, the platform will have over 1,000 pre-made “packs” covering a wide range of interest categories and sub-categories.

Q4: Why is X launching this feature now?
The launch addresses two key issues: the general challenge of user growth and onboarding on social platforms, and specific data showing a decline in crypto-related engagement on X throughout 2025.

Q5: Are curated social media lists a new idea?
No, similar features exist. Bluesky launched “Starter Packs” in 2024, and Meta’s Threads tested custom feeds. X’s version is distinguished by being platform-curated and launching with a very large number of pre-built categories.